MN DNR Enforcement

MN DNR Enforcement Welcome to the official Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division page.

09/02/2026

Come on out and see us today at the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

Our boat and water safety team has a booth just outside the DNR building and is ready to answer all your boating questions, demonstrate a variety of types of life jackets, and start talking about staying safe on the ice. (We know it’s hot out now, but it’s never too early to start preparing!)

Make sure to stop by and say hello!
08/29/2026

Make sure to stop by and say hello!

Before you ever turn the key to head out on the trails, make safety the day’s priority.All too often, COs see people ski...
08/25/2026

Before you ever turn the key to head out on the trails, make safety the day’s priority.

All too often, COs see people skipping some of the most important parts: Wearing a helmet and buckling up.

DOT-certified helmets: Encouraged for all but required for anyone under the age of 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on an off-highway vehicle. That includes kids riding in the back seat. Being a passenger doesn’t mean they can skip the helmet.

Seat belts: If your OHV is equipped with seat belts, buckle up every time. (All occupants of Class 2 ATVs that are manufactured with a seatbelt must wear a seatbelt when they're on public roadways or rights-of way.)

Parents set the example for young riders. Being a good role model means putting safety first.

mndnr.gov/ohv/atv-safety.html

A well-deserved honor.Longtime DNR Enforcement K9 handler CO Mike Fairbanks – along with Fennec and Si, the two dogs he ...
08/24/2026

A well-deserved honor.

Longtime DNR Enforcement K9 handler CO Mike Fairbanks – along with Fennec and Si, the two dogs he worked with over the years – recently received the 2026 Loyal Partner Award from the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association. It reflects their years of commitment working on behalf of Minnesota’s people and natural resources.

Fairbanks worked with Si from 2013 to 2023. Upon Si’s retirement, Fairbanks began working with Fennec. Both dogs passed away earlier this year.

Fairbanks (right) is shown here with Chris Maier of the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association.

Life jackets save lives.In Minnesota, children under 10 years old must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted...
08/23/2026

Life jackets save lives.

In Minnesota, children under 10 years old must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted life jacket when a boat is underway. But don’t stop there. Before leaving the dock:

• One for everyone: Make sure there is a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, wearable life jacket available for every person on board.

• Check the fit: Life jackets should be the right size for the person wearing them. A properly fitted jacket should be snug but comfortable and should not ride up or slip off.

• Kids grow fast: Check the size and fit of your child’s life jacket at the beginning of every boating season. Don’t rely on a jacket that they have outgrown.

• Wear it, don’t just have it. Wear a life jacket is the best way to prevent a tragedy on the water.

mndnr.gov/safety/boatwater/index.html

Coming soon: Online auctions for confiscated hunting and fishing equipment.The DNR is holding two online auctions – Aug....
08/20/2026

Coming soon: Online auctions for confiscated hunting and fishing equipment.

The DNR is holding two online auctions – Aug. 31 and Sept. 28 – this year to sell equipment confiscated following serious fish and game violations.

Here are the details:
• A list of equipment to be auctioned will be available about a month before each auction at the Hiller Auction Service website (www.hillerauction.com).

• The bidding catalog for each auction will be available at the Hiller Auction Service website on Aug. 27 and Sept. 24. The catalog will include a written description and photos of each item.

• Online bidding for the auctions begins Aug. 28 (first auction) and Sept. 25 (second auction). Onsite inspection is available at Hiller Auction Service in Zimmerman on Aug. 28 and Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The auctions will begin closing at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 and Sept. 28.

See the confiscated equipment auctions web page for more information: mndnr.gov/enforcement/auctions/index.html

08/20/2026

It was a great day to be near the water!

Yesterday, several conservation officers and pilots spent time talking with some of the 1,700 or so people who attended the Duluth Police Department Kids, Cops, and Cars event at Bayfront Park in Duluth.

Among the highlights for the kids? The opportunity for an up-close look at the DNR Enforcement helicopter, which serves many purposes – from rescuing stranded people to conducting habitat-improvement projects throughout Minnesota.

Time for something new?The DNR is currently accepting applications from people with a background in law enforcement for ...
08/19/2026

Time for something new?

The DNR is currently accepting applications from people with a background in law enforcement for a Conservation Officer Academy in spring/summer 2027. This hiring track is for individuals who already are working in law enforcement or who are eligible for licensure by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board.

COs work throughout Minnesota to protect the state’s people and natural resources and have done so since 1887. Interested? We’d love to hear from you.

mndnr.gov/enforcement/careers/index.html

Whether it’s during a talk at a fi****ms safety class, a discussion at a school, or a routine check in the field or on t...
08/06/2026

Whether it’s during a talk at a fi****ms safety class, a discussion at a school, or a routine check in the field or on the water, conservation officers are always working to help people become more knowledgeable about the outdoors and safer as they enjoy their pursuits.

This past weekend, CO Tou Vang, our Hmong liaison and outreach officer, spent some time at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro during the Hmong Women Hunting Safety and Outdoor Skills weekend.

CO Vang, May Vang (the Hmong outreach coordinator in the DNR Fish and Wildlife Division), Colleen Foehrenbacher (the learning center’s executive director), and others taught attendees many aspects of the outdoors, from safe fi****ms handling to tree stand safety to navigation skills and building a campfire. All attendees also earned their fi****ms safety certification.

Congratulations to Kraig Kiger, of Grand Rapids, on being named the 2025 volunteer fi****ms safety instructor of the yea...
08/03/2026

Congratulations to Kraig Kiger, of Grand Rapids, on being named the 2025 volunteer fi****ms safety instructor of the year!

A certified instructor since 2003, Kiger has helped more than 2,000 students learn the skills they need to enjoy a lifetime of safety in the outdoors. He’s led as many as 24 classes in a year, drawing youth and adults alike from all corners of the state to learn from him and his fellow instructors.

“Kraig works hard to connect with each of his students and uses many of his own experiences to keep the classes interesting and make the topics he’s covering come alive,” said Conservation Officer Tom Sutherland, who is stationed in Grand Rapids and works frequently with Kiger. “He has an amazing wealth of knowledge and an equally amazing ability to share it with others.”

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Saint Paul, MN
55115

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+16512966157

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